Overall Crime Is Down In Long Beach

LONG BEACH, CA – The Long Beach Police Department announced Friday that year-end citywide crime statistics for 2018 reflect a 16.5 percent decrease in violent crimes and a 6.4 percent decrease in property crimes when compared to 2017.

"Crime continues to drop in Long Beach, making our city one of the safest big cities in California," said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia.

"Over the last few years, we've grown the police department, invested in new technology and cameras and focused on making neighborhoods safer. I'm very proud of the LBPD and our community's efforts."

Long Beach police Chief Robert Luna echoed those sentiments.

"I am confident that the partnerships and relationships we have built with our community members, business leaders, and law enforcement partners will help us focus on reducing and preventing crime in our community in the future," Luna said.

"I remain very grateful for the amazing work that our employees and volunteers do every day to make a difference in our city," Luna said.

There were 30 homicides in the city in 2018, which is comparable to the current five-year average of 29 homicides a year since 2014, and which reflects some of the lowest homicide rates in the city's history, Luna said.

City News Service; Image via Shutterstock